WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump nominated U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, to serve as ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Monday, offering the second-term congressman a diplomatic post after his unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Hunt, a retired Army captain, served twice in Saudi Arabia as a diplomatic liaison officer. He has also remained a close Trump ally, endorsing Trump after he launched his 2022 reelection campaign and serving as a campaign surrogate during the 2024 presidential election.
“Every chapter of my life has reinforced the same conviction: America is worth fighting for,” Hunt wrote on X after Trump announced the nomination. “Now, I have been called to serve our country once again. Thank you President Trump for the honor.”
Hunt entered the 2026 Texas Senate race instead of seeking reelection to the House. He competed against Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary.
Hunt finished third with 13.5% of the vote. Paxton advanced to a runoff against Cornyn and defeated him in May.
Trump did not endorse a candidate during the Republican primary but backed Paxton during the final week of the runoff.
Hunt indicated after conceding the Senate race that he intended to remain involved in politics. “This will not be the last time you see my name on a ballot,” he told supporters.
The Senate must confirm Hunt before he can become ambassador. The chamber has only two weeks of scheduled session before Election Day, which could make a confirmation vote difficult to arrange soon.
The Saudi ambassadorship has remained vacant since Trump began his second term, with an interim official handling the post. During Trump’s first term, retired Army Gen. John Abizaid served as ambassador.
Hunt previously discussed his military service in Saudi Arabia, including his time there when U.S. forces killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in 2011. Hunt said he stayed away from work for two weeks because he feared bin Laden sympathizers could target U.S. coalition forces.
Other Texans have also received ambassador nominations during Trump’s second term. They include Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta, who serves as ambassador to Italy; Houston Republican donor Mindy Hildebrand, ambassador to Costa Rica; and Dallas businessman Joseph Popolo, ambassador to the Netherlands.